When a circuit court in Accra discharged an accountant, charged for embezzling over ¢1.2 billion belonging to his employers, because a vital witness did not make an appearance in court, he thought he had gained his freedom.However his freedom was short-lived, as James Armateifio, the accountant, was re-arrested as soon as he stepped out of the court room.The prosecutor, Mr. E.Y. Frimpong, had earlier pleaded with the court for the case to be adjourned to enable the prosecution to produce the witness, but the judge declined the request.Armateifio was the accountant and director of A & B Targets Limited in Accra.Some time in 2005, according to the prosecution, his employers detected that he had embezzled ¢144 million and accordingly dismissed him.His employers later contacted external auditors to audit the accounts for 2001 – 2005, the period he was in charge of affairs.It became evident during the audit, that he had embezzled over ¢1.2 billion.When he was confronted with the finding he wrote to the company pleading for forgiveness, but the matter was reported to the police and he was arrested and charged with the offence.Armateifio had been appearing before the court since 2006 on a charge of embezzlement.Source: The Ghanaian Times